RELATING TO DEFAMATION.
HB 148 protects individuals who make claims about sexual misconduct from defamation lawsuits, directly affecting people reporting such incidents. The bill establishes that these claims cannot be challenged as defamation unless the person making them acted with "malice" - meaning they knew the claim was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. This provision aims to reduce legal barriers for reporting sexual misconduct by shielding truthful or good-faith allegations. The law would apply to civil lawsuits seeking damages for defamation related to sexual misconduct claims.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2025
Last action Jan 21, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jan 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 1
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
lower
Jan 14, 2025
Introduced
Prefiled.
lower
10 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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